Last week I decided to watch the three-episode arc in which, after nearly 100 episodes starring Steve, Joe is introduced and Steve makes his permanent exit (which, inexplicably, spawned Steve-is-dead rumors across the Internet). I have to admit that I understand what experts mean when they say Joe is more in-your-face and eager to please while Steve is cool, soothing, and perhaps a bit slyly (but not condescendingly) self-aware. They're two different approaches, and, yes, I'm man enough to admit that I like them both.

But what I really want to talk about is the aforementioned arc's final episode, titled "Steve Goes to College." THAT EPISODE IS DEVASTATING! Yes, I started crying at the end! The way Steve says goodbye, expresses his appreciation for our friendship, encourages us to look after of Joe—it's a emotional climax, a punch to the gut. After hugging Blue, Steve turns to us and confides, "I'm gonna miss you too. I'll never forget how you helped me find all those clues. You really are so smart. Which reminds me. Will you take good care of my brother Joe while I'm at college...? Great.... 'Cuz sometimes he needs a little help.... Kind of like me." Oh, man, I teared up a little while I was typing that.

I have a question for parents. Were your kids traumatized by Steve's departure? Did they have an emotional reaction like I did? And how did they recover from a blow like that?

10 Comments

Perhaps I will play that episode (I have never seen it, and pending it is on Netflix streaming) and see if they freak at the end. My son started watching the ones with Joe yesterday and doesn't seem to notice. I had the pleasure of spending time with Mr. Burns when he came to Oklahoma with the Starlight Mints, so my heart belongs to him instead of Joe.

I can finally see the appeal of Steve. But I must say, I suspect that it took him time to find his groove on the show as well. He seems super enthused in the early episodes, but more subdued in the later ones....

I watched the final episode with my daughter and although she is too young to understand the entire situation, I did tear up at the end. The show was amazing with Steve, and Joe was amazing as well!! I appreciate the way that the producers handled the entire situation and they obviously have enough respect for their pre school viewers. Most shows would have touted a new host with no explanation of why the change occurred. Steve burns is classy! Bravo